AIGA presents "Design Journeys: You Are Here"

AIGA presents "Design Journeys: You Are Here"

May 4, 2010

Over five years ago, the AIGA Task Force on Professional Diversity developed a list of recommendations for increasing diversity within the profession. Among the stated goals were to create awareness of outstanding designers from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds and create traveling shows of the work of diverse designers. The Design Journeys project seeks to achieve both—by celebrating the lives and achievements of 25 selected practitioners, and encouraging aspiring designers from all backgrounds to consider design as a viable and rewarding career. The resulting show, an interactive exhibition open to the public, will be on display at the AIGA National Design Center at 164 Fifth Avenue (between 21st and 22nd Streets) in New York May 20 through July 23.
“Design Journeys” is a collection of stories about the professional lives, contributions and portfolios of historically underrepresented designers that serves as a publicly accessible comprehensive body of research honoring their accomplishments. Individuals selected for “Design Journeys” will be published in an online archive that includes visual samples of their work with an insightful, biographical essay. A traveling exhibition is planned for 2010.
The archive’s board of advisors convened for a day in the summer of 2007 and reviewed candidates recommended through AIGA’s online form for this project. The board selected the following designers to be featured in the first “Design Journeys” installment:Gail Anderson, creative director, design, SpotCoArchie Boston, founder and principal, Archie Boston Graphic DesignAndy Cruz, owner and art director, House IndustriesCharles Dawson, artist and designerAaron Douglas, artist and illustratorEmory Douglas, graphic artistRafael Esquer, founder and principal, alfalfa studioKarin Fong, director and partner, Imaginary ForcesSylvia Harris, information design strategistLorenzo Homar, graphic artistJohn C Jay, global executive creative director and partner, Wieden+KennedySteve Jones, principal and creative director, Plantain StudioGarland Kirkpatrick, founder and principal, Helvetica JonesSaki Mafundikwa, founder and director, Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts (ZIVE)Chaz Maviyane-Davies, professor of design, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, BostonPablo Medina, founder and principal, CubanicaRebeca Méndez, founder and principal, Rebeca Méndez Communication DesignBennett Peji, founder and principal, Bennett Peji DesignSamina Quraeshi, co-founder and principal, SQ Design PublishersEdel Rodriguez, artist and illustratorArt Sims, founder and CEO, 11:24 Design AdvertisingLucille Tenazas, founder and principal, Tenazas DesignMichele Washington, founder and principal, Washington DesignLeRoy Winbush, founder and principal, Winbush DesignMaurice Woods, founder and chair, Inneract Project